Three Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing nearly seven months aboard the Tiangong space station, marking the longest space mission by a Chinese crew to date. The spacecraft carrying Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang of the Shenzhou 21 mission landed at the Dongfeng site in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region in the evening, according to official media reports.

Their mission, which lasted around seven months in orbit, included a wide range of scientific and operational tasks aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station. The crew worked on processing and transmitting experimental data, managing supplies, and supporting ongoing station operations. They also interacted with the incoming Shenzhou 23 crew shortly after their arrival at the orbital outpost.

During their mission, the astronauts conducted multiple spacewalks, with Zhang Lu completing seven extravehicular activities in total across his career, making him one of China’s most experienced spacewalk astronauts. The crew also carried out three spacewalks during the Shenzhou 21 expedition, contributing to the continued expansion and maintenance of the space station.

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Officials from the China Manned Space Agency said the mission demonstrated strong operational capability and coordination in long-duration spaceflight. The astronauts also expressed emotional reflections upon their return, highlighting the physical and psychological demands of extended time in orbit and thanking their families and mission teams for their support.

Zhang Hongzhang described seeing Earth from space as a powerful experience, emphasizing a sense of shared humanity while viewing the planet from orbit. The mission is part of China’s broader effort to advance its space programme, which includes plans for a crewed lunar landing by 2030.

China’s Tiangong station has become a central platform for its human spaceflight ambitions after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over security concerns. The programme continues to expand as China and the United States pursue parallel lunar exploration goals, with NASA aiming for a crewed Moon landing later in the decade.

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